Quicker Weeknight Meals

So typically, what takes the longest when you are cooking a meal?? Cooking the meat, right??  Here is an easy way to skip that step.

One day every few months, I spend browning hamburger and shredding chicken.  Then I put about 2 cups of the cooked meat in a baggie and freeze it.  That way when I’m ready to start cooking, that step is already over.

Sure, it’s a lot of work for one day, but it makes week night cooking for the next few weeks much easier.

Ground Beef/Sausage/Turkey/Chicken: I start with about 10-20 pounds of meat.  Put it in 2 skillets and begin cooking the meat on a slow temperature.  Make sure you stir and chop as you go.  The cooking process will take about 45 minutes.  Once the meat is done, drain all of the grease out.  Then spread the meat on a paper towel lined baking sheet. This will help the meat cool quicker and the paper towel will absorb any grease left over.  Once the meat is cool, you can begin to put it in baggies.  You can either use a measuring cup (if you like to be exact) or just grab a few handfuls, like I do.  Then, seal up the bags and put in freezer.

**Ideas for Ground Beef/Sausage/Turkey/Chicken: tacos, spaghetti meat sauce, sloppy joe, chili/soups, hamburger helper, etc.**

Shredded Chicken: Place 10-15 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in slow cooker (can be frozen).  Let cook over night (or 8-10 hours) on low.  Once the meat is done, drain all of the liquid out (you can save the broth for soups, if you’d like).  Let the chicken cool slightly.  Once the chicken has cooled enough to be able to touch, you can begin to shred the meat.  If you wait until the chicken is too cool, the meat will not shred as easy.  At this point, you can begin to put it in baggies and freeze.

**Ideas for Shredded Chicken: tacos, stir fry, enchiladas, etc.**

Once you are ready to use the meat, all you have to do is put it in the microwave to defrost a few seconds or put it directly in a skillet.  At this point, you can start to add the ingredients you need for your recipe.  Just skip the step where it says to brown your meat!